Jar opener or closer.



PATENTED MAR. '7, 1905.

C. BRAUNSOHWEIGBR. JAR OPENER 0R CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1904.

I NVENTOR. 7 I MW' WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES Patented March 7, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN BRAUNSOHIVEIGER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOJOHN BRAUNSCHIVEIGER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

JAR OPENER OR CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 784,467, dated March7, 1905.

Application filed February 1. 1904. Serial No. 191,468.

1) a whom, it mm/ 7; concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN BRAUN- soirwrneER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and

a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Jar Openers or Closers;and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the class of tools .used foropening or closing the screw covers or stoppers of fruit-jars or otheranalogous articles; and it has for its object to simplify and cheapenthe manufacture of devices of this class and to make certainimprovements in the construction thereof whereby their efliciency isincreased and their operation made easier.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is aside view of the device comprising my invention; Fig. 2, a rear viewthereof, showing the U-groove in the handle. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe blank used in the formation of the lever-handle thereof, and Fig. Ais a cross-section of the lever-handle.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a lever handle which is formedfrom sheet metal and made U-shaped in cross-section to form alongitudinal groove or socket therein for receiving the ends or bearingsof the springWire loop B, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The blank A, fromwhich the lever-handle A is formed, is provided near one of its endswith two sets of horizontally-alining apertu res (1 u and Z) 7), saidtwo sets of apertures being a short distance apart and each set being sospaced as to adapt them when the handle has been formed to axially alineto receive the pivots a and b, respectively.

The end of the blank .A' adjacent 'to the apertu res a is cut away at 0to form the tongues (l (7, in which said apertures are centrallydisposed, and said blank is also cutaway at a point between theapertures a a and 7) 7) in longitudinal axial alinement with theaforesaid cut-away portion 0 to form the slightlyelongated slot 0therein. lVhen the blank A has been longitudinally bent upon itself toform the U-shaped handle A, the slot 0 forms a mutilated or chamferedportion on the back of said handle, having the shoulders f and f ateither end thereof, the shoulder f" being disposed between said slot andthe tongues (Z (Z. The blank A is also shown as being provided with abulged or enlarged portion g at its opposite end to form agripping-surface on the handle A for the hand.

The loop B, which is formed from spring metal or wire and adapted toencircle the jar cover or stopper to be opened or tightenechhasbearing-loops provided at each end, one of which is inserted between thetongues ([62 in the handle A and retained therein by the pivot a, whichis passed through and has its ends headed on the outer sides of theapertures a a. The end -/L of said bearing-loop passes entirely aroundthe pivot a and forms a wedge between the adjacent portions of the loopB and the pivot (4, thus rigidly elevating that portion of the loop Babove the pivot. The bearing-loop at the other end of the loop B ispassed diagonally through the slot toa point between the apertures 7) l,where it is retained by the pivot I), which is mounted in and has itsends headed on the outer sides of said apertu res.

The tension of the loop B is such as to adapt it to remain normallyclosed or in engaging position with its rearwardly-pivoted end hearingagainst the shoulder f, its opening movement being limited by the rearshoulder f of the slot 0. This normally closed feature of my device isobtained by so forming the loop.

lwith relation to the lever-handle A as to have the center thereof insubstantial alinement with an axial line drawn longitudinally of saidhandle, thus causing the lower arc of the circle formed by the loop B tointersect the end of the lever A at substantially a right angle thereto.The advantage derived from this feature of my device is apparent, as theloop will be adapted to normally engage the cover to be operated on, andthus obviate the necessity of holding the loop by hand to prevent amovement thereof while the lever is being oscillated to take up theslack.

A further advantage is derived from the arrangement of the parts aboveset forth, inasmuch as the power generated in the loop B by theoperation of the lever A is evenly distributed about the same, thecontiguous end of the lever being adapted to draw tangentially on theloop and engaged cover instead of being pushed inwardly against the sameas the other end of the wire is drawn around by the operation'of thelever, thus causing the loop and lever to have a twisting instead of acrushing eifect on the cover.

It will be obvious that such changes in the form, proportion, and minordetails of construction of the parts as fairly fall within the scope .ofmy invention may be'made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- As a new article of manufacture, a jaropener and closer, comprising a sheet-metal handle bent intosubstantially U-cross-sectional shape, a pin extending across thechannel formed by the handle and secured in the side walls of the same,a second pin secured at its ends in the fiat sides of the handle andextending across the channel provided by the same and separated adistance from the first pin, said handle having an elongated slot in theback thereof between the two pins, and a resilient strand bent at oneend around the first-named pin extending therefrom in looped formationand having its opposite end passed through said elongated slot into thespace between the two sides of the handle and secured about the secondpin, the loop normally assuming a contracted position, substantially asdescribed. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTIAN BRAUNSCHWEIGER.

Witnesses:

WVILBER A. OWEN, MARY I. SHAY.

